EMOVE Touring Review

Cockpit

Measuring 22 inches in width, the Touring sports some of the widest handlebars in the commuter scooter category. It dwarfs those on the popular Fluid Mosquito by a whopping 6.2 inches and is a close match to those on the Horizon. Combined with the flared rubber handgrips, controlling the scooter is a breeze.

But, it’s not just maneuverability that the handlebars afford. Equipped with a light switch, horn, key-start ignition, voltmeter, and display, everything you need to manage your ride is at your fingertips.

However, I did find that it felt a little cramped between the finger throttle and the handgrip. The good news, though, is that you can switch the finger throttle for either a thumb or a twist unit for an additional $59.

Changing riding modes via the display was a little cumbersome, too.

Unlike other scooters, where you just click one button to quickly cycle through the different modes, the display on the EMOVE forces you to click the power button first, and then click the mode button to pick either gear 1, 2, or 3. The additional step that you have to take makes it difficult to change riding mode while in motion since you have to keep an eye on the screen to see if it's registered your input. I found it easier to select the fastest mode before I started riding and then used the throttle to regulate my speed.

Frame

The Touring has been around since 2020 and its design has remained largely the same. Like its fellow commuter scooter counterparts, it sports a relatively simplistic, yet functional frame.

However, what sets it apart is that it’s available in a series of colors, including red, black, purple, orange, and white.

Each component of the frame – from the stem and the deck to the folding mechanism and fenders – has been well-built and feels sturdy.

Deck

On the same day that I tested the EMOVE Touring, I also rode the Horizon – a scooter whose deck, by my measurements, is 40% smaller.

By comparison, the available foot space on the Touring’s deck measures 22.8 inches in length and 7.3 inches in width vs the 18.3 by 6.5 inches of the Horizon.

The difference in space was immediately recognizable since it affords you the room to strike a stance with a decent gap between both feet. For bigger riders, this is a key selling point.

The second design feature that enhances the deck’s ability to keep you glued to it, is its liberal slathering of grip tape. I rode the scooter in the rain, snow, and sun, and found that there was more than enough grip for all conditions.

Optional Seat

One of the reasons why the EMOVE Touring has such a long deck is that it has a dual purpose. It’s one of the few scooters that can be fitted with a seat.

The seat costs $65 and affixes to the rear of the deck via four bolts and a base plate. If you need to fold the scooter, the seat can be easily collapsed via the quick-release lever, making it extremely convenient for those that want to retain the EMOVE’s portability credentials.

Tires

Like many of its competitors, the Touring makes use of a mix-and-match approach to its tires with a pneumatic up front and a solid rubber one at the rear.

Here, the pneumatic tire soaks up vibrations, and – thanks to its rounded front-on profile – allows the scooter to remain nimble. The tire at the rear, however, is solid, square in its design, and slightly thicker.

At this point, it's important to point out that the vast majority of flats occur at the rear, which is why the Touring forgoes a rear pneumatic. So, not only does the solid tire eliminate the possibility of a flat, but its ever-so-slightly wider profile maintains traction on the straights thanks to a bigger contact patch. Ultimately, this ensures good traction when accelerating and braking.

Portability

Make no bones about it – this is an ultra-portable scooter. Setting aside for a moment its telescopic stem and foldable handlebars, it has a slick cantilevered folding mechanism, and a thin, lightweight frame of 39 lbs to make it a commuter’s dream.

Pulling the lever at the neck disengages the stem from its locked upright position and allows you to lower it until it becomes parallel with the deck.

Using the locking lever can, at first, seem difficult because it’s stiff, but it needs to be tight to ensure that the stem doesn’t wobble while riding. I found that the easiest way to fold the scooter was to place one foot on the back of the deck, and then push against the stem. This gives you the tiniest bit of room needed to push the lever down. Or, you can stand over the scooter, apply the brakes and use your foot to push down on the lever.

The key components that make the Touring so portable, though, are its foldable handlebars and telescopic stem. Thanks to the spring-loaded cuffs, the handlebars have a pull-and-release mechanism that enables you to fold and unfold them in mere seconds. The same can be said for the telescopic stem and its quick-release locking lever.

The only thing you need to be conscious of is the fact that foldable handlebars can be a double-edged sword. While they bestow a scooter with more portability, they can also loosen, meaning either side of the handlebars can be wiggled up and down. This is an easy fix, though. It takes less than 2 minutes to tighten the adjustment screws.

Load

With a capacity of 308 lbs, the EMOVE Touring has the greatest load-bearing credentials among all commuter scooters. And, it’s the undisputed king of load-bearing in the sub $1,000 category, making it an ideal choice for heavier riders that want to keep their budget as low as possible.

It’s worth noting, though, that while the Touring can support heavy loads, there’s no guarantee that it’ll perform as per my tests. For context, I weighed 190 lbs when testing the scooter and so I can confidently say that it performs well for loads that are around this figure. However, I’ve seen heavier riders weighing up to 250 lbs report that the scooter still does a good job – even when going up hills.

Lights

At the front, a low-mounted headlight provides good visibility in low-light conditions. However, for pitch-black scenarios, you’ll want to consider attaching a clip-on light to the handlebars.

Elsewhere, the button lights embedded into the four corners of the deck light up the periphery of the scooter’s chassis.

The final piece of the puzzle is the fender-mounted taillight. There is room for improvement, though. The taillight and rear deck lights don’t flash while braking.

Build Quality

There’s no denying that the EMOVE Touring sports a design and build that’s of an earlier era of electric scooters. But, to give credit where it's due, for a model with so many moving parts, it feels solid to ride – providing you avoid rough roads.

There’s no stem wobble and with a precipitation-hardened, stress-tested aluminum frame, it manages to be both sturdy and lightweight.

It’s unpretentious in what it has to offer. Whether it's the robust exterior or well-equipped interior – it’s here to get the job done, and it does just that – ride after ride, charge after charge. Take for example its high-quality LG battery that’s regulated by a smart battery management system. This helps safeguard the battery from overcharging, overheating, and short-circuiting to ensure its longevity.

Even the fenders are well-built and do a good job of protecting you from splashback, while an IP54 water-resistance rating takes care of the scooter in the rain.

One thing that I noticed while riding over a very rough road, though, was that I heard some rattling. I think this was a result of the suspension not being able to fully absorb the shocks and vibrations. Nevertheless, providing you stay within the parameters of well-maintained streets and sidewalks, the Touring delivers a rattle-free ride.